27 July 2011

From Denny: With no debt ceiling deal in sight, Congress still squabbling and the American public fuming, we are left with contemplating just how damaging it will be to our daily lives if America defaults.

For an economic powerhouse like our country to be downgraded from its AAA rating is humiliating considering our status in the world. How can a country that gives away billions of dollars in foreign aid, finances an endless march of third world governments, no longer be able to pay its bills?

The Republicans are naked in their exposure for propping up the wealthy at the expense of the middle class, the elderly and the poor. The GOP is held hostage by the Tea Party conservatives who are adamant to implode our economy and the global village along with us.

The Democrats can't seem to rein in their idiot Centrists under Steny Hoyer dumb enough to vote for Republican proposals. President Obama probably wants to quit the job and move off world after dealing with these greedy fools."

From Denny:Congress and President Obama have so slashed the federal budget on the backs of the low-income and retired Americans that many are dying in this heatwave. What has happened?

Federal weather assistance fund broke

About $5 billion from a federal fund is spread around the states every year to help subsidize those households in need of covering their heating and cooling bills. The usual gamesmanship in Washington is now wrecking havoc on the most personal level.

Our federal government generally reserves several hundred million dollars to distribute during weather emergencies. We have certainly seen our fair share of weather emergencies for several years now.

America has the most violent and extreme weather of any nation on the planet. Just this one year we have experienced monster hurricanes, tornados wiping out whole towns, raging floods from the Spring snow melt, fires from drought-striken areas of the country, extreme cold in the winter and now extreme heat this summer.

That emergency weather fund used to be $590 million but recently Congress slashed it by almost two-thirds to only $200 million. Why is that significant? Before the heatwave began the fund went dry, completely empty of assistance monies.

22 July 2011

Rupert Murdoch, Image by DonkeyHotey via FlickrFrom Denny: You can't say this summer's hot weather didn't bring with it some seriously bizarre political entertainment. Never a dull moment the past week. Rupert Murdoch became the news instead of creating the fictitious news and selling it as if it were the truth, the usual business of a tabloid "news" organization.

Rupert Murdoch and the News Corp Scandal

Murdoch was busy employing media consultants to come up with a strategy of how to distract Parliament while it was going badly for him when he was testifying. No one in Britain - or the rest of the world - wanted to hear him and his son, James, whine about how they were not aware of all the wrong doing going on in their tabloid news rooms.

21 July 2011

the two Baracks, Image via WikipediaFrom Denny: Author Sally Jacobs shares details from her new book which focuses upon the life of President Obama's enigmatic father. Barack Obama, Sr. was profiled as bold and reckless. The book is called "The Other Barack."

Barack, Sr. lived large, drank heavily and had multiple wives because he had come from a polygamous background. To him it was socially normal.

President Obama is rooted, extremely cautious, responsible, monogamous and an attentive father. He's the typical profile of the child of a raging alcoholic.

You see a lot of this reaction from the next generation in politics, the military and the intelligence community. Even President Bush 41 reacted in a similar fashion to his father, Senator Bush, who was an alcoholic.

Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious and Odd: Funny Metal Head Dancing Baby Goes Wild: "From Denny: This is quite amusing as this baby dances to some really wild grinding metal music of legend group Pantera. This kid might grow up to be either a dance choreographer or a music critic. Either way he is so entertaining that this funny video will deliver you a laugh of the day. Enjoy!"

20 July 2011

NAFTA logo, Image via WikipediaFrom Denny: America does not want the NAFTA trade deals sending more of our jobs out of the country. What is Congress doing? They are arguing over whether they should still give money for retraining workers who lose those jobs to bad trade pacts: NAFTA.

Are they crazy? Why is Congress not creating more jobs inside America or choosing to hold onto jobs here? Why the big rush to send them overseas?

19 July 2011

Rupert Murdoch, Image via CrunchBaseFrom Denny: As Rupert Murdoch tried to play the frail old man routine he served up his own son as more "in the know" than him about the doings of all his $39 billion net worth companies and the 53,000 people in his employ.

There is just one problem with that depiction: Rupert is known for being a hands on kind of guy, especially when it comes to the tabloid newspapers. He regularly calls his editors and inquires about the latest salacious gossip and scandal. He relishes and revels in it. Does that sound like a foggy confused old guy? Of course not.

18 July 2011

From Denny: As Billionaire Tabloid Media Mogul Rupert Murdoch seeks to fend off the media and investigation sharks, more drama unfolds day by day. Here's the current tally:

* Sir Paul Stephenson, the top police official, resigned once allegations surfaced he employed some pricey folks from News Corp as advisers to the UK's Scotland Yard at the steep price of $1,700 a day. Sign me up on that assignment.

* Next on the resignation chopping block today is John Yates, the London police commissioner. He was in charge of an investigation back in 2006, looking into illegal telephone intercepts by NotW. Obviously, he did a good job of burying that investigation for Murdoch.

9/11 victims may have been hacked

* On this side of the Atlantic in America there are as yet unsubstantiated allegations that a private investigator and a former New York City police officer were offered payments for sending information about 9/11 victims News Corp's way. If found to be true, those guys had better move to another planet as the entire city might erupt.

17 July 2011

Dennys Food and Recipes: Easy and Simple: How To Make The Best Key Lime Pie: "From Denny: Making your own key lime pie is so simple - and rewarding! It's definitely one of my favorite desserts, especially in the heat of the summer. The tartness really cools you off. FYI, any tart food cools down your liver, which, in turn, cools off your body in hot weather. So, think apples, limes, grapefruit and blackberries if you want to cool off the healthy way.

Florida is known for their key lime pie and there are fans of it all over the country now. The real secret to making this simple and easy famous pie is to purchase real key limes for the recipe. Key limes are very small, very tart and thin-skinned. When ripe they turn from green to yellow.

Most limes in our American grocery stores are those large beautiful, neon green and thicker-skinned Persian limes. Persian limes are also much less tart so they don't deliver that full flavor to the pie cooks, and tasters alike, desire.

How simple is this pie recipe? Really simple: 100 percent key lime juice, sweetened condensed milk and a good graham cracker crust with a little melted butter, brown sugar and chopped nuts. At our house we make the chocolate graham cracker crust while others choose to use traditional pastry crust. It's your preference."

Then there's Eric Cantor, who is in charge of the debt ceiling talks, so much so he acts like the Cock of the Walk. He loves to highlight on both Speaker Boehner and President Obama. He is an equal opportunity opportunist.

Obama finally threw up his hands in exasperation after Cantor kept interrupting Obama, three times no less, as he tried to end the meeting and schedule the next one. Will the real grown-up please stand up?"

Rupert Murdoch Pimps The News, Image by DonkeyHotey via FlickrFrom Denny: The bigger they are they harder they fall. First, it's the News Of The World tabloid newspaper that abruptly closes down. Then CEO of News Corp International, Rebekah Brooks, resigns today. The pressure was on from the Prime Minister - with the help of two investigations on both sides of the Atlantic.

Now, the latest development is that the CEO of the Dow Jones, Les Hinton, resigned. Dow Jones is also owned by Rupert Murdoch. Hinton was Chairman of News International at the time of the alleged phone hacking found out in the UK. News International is News Corp.'s British newspaper unit. Hinton was there for 12 years before moving over to head up Dow Jones.

There isn't much that Rupert Murdoch does not own. The list is practically endless. It's no wonder few people or politicians dared to oppose him on anything. But some things, well, not even a guy this influential can control or win.

14 July 2011

Image via WikipediaFrom Denny: He promotes or destroys politicians with his attention or anger, manipulating entire countries through the bribing of their politicians. These are just his media holdings. He owns other American stalwarts like Brawny paper towels and Angel Soft toilet paper: not. His sphere of influence has been so far-reaching it boggles the mind.

Yeah, my bad, Murdoch does not own name brands like Brawny and Angel Soft. Those products belong to the other annoying billionaires who like to meddle in national politics and order around world leaders: the Koch Brothers.

Of course, those of us who have been crying foul for some time now about journalism ethics not being utilized by his tabloid newspapers and cable channels have been run over by his huge empire. There are times when I wondered if anyone could hear my lone voice crying in the proverbial wilderness.

Well, at long last now people understand why people like me have been so disturbed over his media corporate culture. Who in the hell does he think he is to so intimidate world leaders so as to grab yet more power?

13 July 2011

From Denny: This past week comics had plenty to lampoon. William and Kate, the celebrated British royals came for a visit to California while on the continent. There was an outburst of royal fever while they collected funds for their favorite charities. Recently married this was their first excursion as a duo and they were warmly received everywhere they visited.

Casey Anthony Trial Verdict

On the darker side: the Casey Anthony trial, where a young single mother was accused of killing her two-year-old daughter. Jurors acquitted her, delivering a surprise verdict. The whole country erupted in indignation because everyone assumed her guilty.

All satire aside, Colbert actually did go before a government agency, the FEC, to get the OK to create his own Super PAC for who-knows-what fund raising. They gave permission and he's been off on his crazy rants ever since.

It will be interesting to see just how much money he does manage to raise during the 2012 election, making a mockery of our ridiculous political system. What will be funnier still is which politicians - and how many - will approach him to do ads for them. In other words, 'Spend your money for me!'
Meanwhile, Colbert is like a kid in a candy store having more fun with his newly discovered legitimate Super PAC. He even has a website: ColbertSuperPAC.com. Become a member today and donate! Stephen promises not to use your email addresses for anything but good. He also promises you can expect mountains of spam just like Hormel."

I've been waiting for the longer movie trailer like this one to come out. Of course, my computer crashed last week and had to replace it with a new love of my life so that delayed me getting this clip up on this blog. While I was in technology oblivion I was reduced to snail TV yet every time this trailer came on TV it made me laugh. Share a grin with me and think about how you want to take back your power - and, in many cases, your dignity - from your annoying Horrible Bosses!"

When turbulent times are upon us it can sure cause us to think about the many wonderful friends we've enjoyed over the years. Many are in other countries now, some passed away young, others are in turmoil from divorce or other trauma. Many others have raised families, wondering what to do with the rest of their lives.

I've certainly had my fair share of interesting friends in my life. There were those to whom I was a better friend to them than they were to me. The reverse is true of those who were much older - and definitely wiser - who helped guide me when I needed it most - that I was not the friend I wished I had been for them at that point in time. But mentors know and accept that truth. They get their laugh when it's your turn to mentor and the process starts all over again. :)

These interesting heartfelt quotes are certainly an eclectic check list to assess if you are being the kind of friend you desire to be to others. And it might be eye-opening to assess if others are being the kind of friend you need right now too."

Would have had them up sooner for you but the computer crashed and had to replace it. When I got back up online yet another surprise: Blogger decided to make a gazillion changes to 'blogger in draft' and the bugs are still not worked out for bloggers. They have some great ideas and are offering some wonderful new gadgets and different features as you post.

But for now they have slowed me down to two or three posts a day because it's like swimming through mud waiting for the draft to accept everything. I sure will be glad when it's all worked out and I can get back to seven posts or more a day! Until then, get some smiles from these cute monkeys, both human and animal."

12 July 2011

From Denny: As President Obama struggles with a contentious GOP over the debt ceiling issue, the rest of the world has its economic woes too.

Obama is trying to convince the Republicans to care about the elderly and the American middle class that have paid into Social Security all their working lives. They call it entitlements because we already paid for it in advance. To the GOP mind, well, just why would a person want their money back in their old age?

The GOP is wearing thin on everyone trying to convince us to feel sorry for the billionaires. Republicans continually make the case as to why the rich should not pay taxes or should Big Business. After all, why should they contribute something to this country when they have shipped American jobs overseas? Yes, the rhetoric has devolved into The Ridiculous.

11 July 2011

From Denny: Betty Ford. What a lady. She hails from a time when people didn't hate each other in politics; they only disagreed. She was a great lady of humble attitude, practical in how she approached life and graceful in how she danced through life - no matter the obstacles.

Betty Ford was best known for her pioneering candor of bringing cancer out of the creeping shadows and on to the national stage. Back then absolutely no one talked about a cancer diagnosis because so often it was considered a death notice. She spoke about it publicly when it was also a social norm that doing so was in bad form.

Yet, it was her stalwart candidness that won her the support of women on both sides of the political aisle. Women started going in droves to their doctors to get breast cancer check-ups. Women picked up her call to actively address their own health issues rather than waiting to get patted on the head by a patronizing doctor to whom they would obediently acquiesce.

Betty Ford saw to it that the times were definitely changing if she had anything to do with it. My favorite photo of her was this one taken where she expressed to the White House photographer how she always wanted to dance on the table in the White House cabinet room. It's that same table where all the men of the Good Ol' Boys Network elbowed out women in the national leadership.

08 July 2011

From Denny: This scandal of tabloid media despicable has so thoroughly disgusted the world that finally the British government is doing something about it. Hacking a dead soldier's email, hacking the phones of murdered teenagers and terrorist victims is heinous. What ever possessed these people to sink so low below the pond scum of humanity?

The reaction in the UK? Let's see, let me count the ways: Advertisers have pulled out, saying they will not return until after the investigations happen. The public is so fed up they have dropped subscriptions all across the country to the once popular newspaper. Politicians are jumping in front of cameras to get their denials on record. The police who also assisted this newspaper by accepting bribes are on the hot seat of investigations. Even the guy who helped propel current PM David Cameron into his national office is on the grill. The list goes on.

It's a three year scandal that just won't go away. In case you didn't know, the paper is owned by Hated-In-America media mogul Rupert Murdoch, owner of FOX News. Right about now a herd of Democrats are watching and wondering if it will adversely affect FOX News here in America. Could it be this easy? Could we finally be rid of the Liars News?

Currently, the newspaper in the UK, News Of The World, is folding up shop and going out of business. No advertisers, no subscriptions and loads of pending lawsuits have killed that business concern. Do not be surprised to witness the tabloid cockroaches rising again under a new name. There are already rumors of new names being floated around the web.

06 July 2011

From Denny: We all heard of former Vice President Al Gore's new Current TV network nabbing former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann to help build the fledgling network's audience.

Olbermann has continued his Countdown show, opining on the zany American politics and politicians in their grab for personal power and financial gain using suspect ways to achieve it.

In this clip he and Mother Jones' Andy Kroll examine the crazy GOP candidates who will literally say anything to get elected.

Keith used to be a sports commentator and a great one at that. If you have never listened to him then you are in for a treat. Much like Jon Stewart he is smart, able to slice and dice the facts accurately and finds himself amused or outraged by it all.

Take a look at this week's offerings. While I am enjoying this new computer it sure was a surprise to discover no speakers came with it. So, while I wait for the mail, let me know how funny are his insights. I sure have missed the guy, wishing my cable tv provider carried his show. If you like him, please call your local cable tv provider and request they carry the new network. It's also on the website where you can easily make the request your provider.

From Countdown: Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney are allergic to facts. How else explain their recent gaffe-fests? Keith dives deeper into the truth -- and the mangling thereof -- with help from Mother Jones' Andy Kroll.

05 July 2011

From Denny: How many in America can remember where they were when the astronauts planted the American flag on the moon? You know they made six trips.

Whenever we celebrate our summer holiday on the Fourth of July, often our thoughts turn to remembering various places with which we associate it. Football games, the giant tattered flag waving back at us from Ground Zero on 911, Memorial Day parades and bedecked graves, the White House flag at half mast when a Senator or President dies, a flag draped coffin of a fallen warrior from a foreign war returned home with respect.

The space shuttle program ends this week in hot steamy July. Have you ever wondered what happened to those old flags on the moon after all these decades?

02 July 2011

From Denny: Talk about scummy politics. The Dylan Ratigan Show was reporting this week about how Congressman Eric Cantor, R-VA, is betting against the American, even the world, economy.

Remember when he threw a huge hissy fit and stormed out of the debt ceiling budget talks with top Congressional leaders led by VP Joe Biden? Something about that move was so calculated and sure stuck in my memory. Well, it wasn't long before the Universe intersected me with the Information Explanation.

Turns out that Cantor bought shorts in the stock market, betting the Treasury bond prices would go down as a result of the breakdown in debt ceiling talks. So, let me see if I understand this correctly. A top political leader, the number two guy in the House of Representatives, declares the debt ceiling talks are at an impasse.

He refuses to talk - or talk reasonably - for any kind of compromise with the Democrats. He succeeds at rattling the Wall Street guys, driving down U. S. Treasury bond prices - as well as confidence in the world markets that America will pay its debt.

Cantor makes a truck load of money as his perk for being one of the political leaders in charge of said economy and influencing the debt ceiling talks to tilt his way. This is an outrage. This man should be arrested immediately. The GOP and its leaders are not negotiating in good faith.

01 July 2011

From Denny: It had to happen sooner or later, right? The Dell Dimension was lingering like a slow tortoise crossing the road and stopping traffic. It just turned five years old.

After a few days of trying to fix it on my own I finally admitted defeat and took it into Office Depot. When I got the high quote I knew the Universe was advising me it was time to purchase a new one for practically the same price. It was just a couple of weeks ago I was in there, cruising the tech aisles, drooling over the terrabyte goodies while my husband grinned and shook his head.

So, yesterday, my husband looked at me and looked at the old guy Dell and said it was time to meet the new BFF guy on the block: HP. Happy Birthday to me a few weeks early. My husband turned to me today and said, "Someone's in a better mood - and so much happier. Welcome back to the plugged in human race." :)

Oh, and for the Fourth weekend Office Depot has lots of great sales on computers and other happy tech goodies. If you are like me, finally having to part with an old friend, take a look around. Who knows? You just might meet the new love of your life!

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The Social Poets

*** News, intelligent politics, American and world politics, common sense political opinion with humor, original poems from a (female) Social Issues Poet (SIP), funny quotes that make you think. *** Email : warriorspearl@gmail.com.

*** Join me for coffee and on Google Friend Connect too! - Denny Lyon, a Louisiana liberal blogger (yes, there is such a political animal in Republican country), writing on the right side of sanity, pushing our government to give us their very best and nothing less.

About Me

Bored with homogenized journalism? Yeah, me too which is why I started all my blogs. Deep thinking of the news and how it affects our lives along with lots of humor posts and much more from my 24 blogs. A free to read online newspaper from independent journalist blogger Denny Lyon. Sit back, relax, get informed, cook a little and laugh a lot: http://dennysnews2.blogspot.com - where all the blogs link so you can peruse for your interests.

I'm a hybrid journalist-blogger which befuddles the publishing and journalism industries that are in serious flux these days - OK, the publishing houses have been melting down. What is not to understand? Time to rock on and catch up with the fast moving times. Hmmm... maybe I have Tiger or Dragon blood after all. :)

Social Issues Poet (SIP), Google searched as
"The Social Prophet," abstract artist, photographer, life philosophy and spirituality writer, great cook.

Writing eclectic interests on world news, American politics, great simple food and recipes, chocolate as the other food group, throw up some of my art, poetry,
lots of great humor, astronomy and other sciences, photography - mine and other friends, spiritual and lover of people.

Enjoy all kinds of people from the most artistic to those who think themselves not creative but have just not yet unlocked it.

Yes, I LOVE people, even the annoying ones though no one ever said they would be immune from hearing from me about said bad attitude. :)

Keep the Joy in your heart and it will get you through anything that gets in your way in Life - a tried and true life philosophy from those who know from experience there will always be obstacles in Life. Your will must develop to be stronger and sweep aside, leap over, walk around or just plain spit on those obstacles. Hey, whatever works, right?

Journalism degree from LSU: Geaux TIGERS! (This is Louisiana where we take creative license when it comes to spelling.)

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The names "The Social Poets" and "Denny Lyon" and "From Denny" are copyrighted as are all photos, including family photos, text, posts and articles by Denny Lyon. Articles, posts and photos by other people are copyrighted only by them - and do not fall under copyright on this blog or Google. Copyright 2008 - 2050 of The Social Poets by Denny Lyon. All Rights Reserved. I plan on being around for a very long time. :)